President-Elect Donald J. Trump Intends to Nominate Dr. Ben Carson as Secretary of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (New York, NY) – President-elect Donald J. Trump today announced his intent to nominate Dr. Ben Carson to serve as Secretary of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Dr. Carson is a distinguished national leader who overcame his troubled youth in the inner city of Detroit to become a renowned neurosurgeon who served as the director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Maryland.

“I am thrilled to nominate Dr. Ben Carson as our next Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Ben Carson has a brilliant mind and is passionate about strengthening communities and families within those communities. We have talked at length about my urban renewal agenda and our message of economic revival, very much including our inner cities. Ben shares my optimism about the future of our country and is part of ensuring that this is a Presidency representing all Americans. He is a tough competitor and never gives up.” “I am honored to accept the opportunity to serve our country in the Trump administration,” said Dr. Carson. “I feel that I can make a significant contribution particularly by strengthening communities that are most in need. We have much work to do in enhancing every aspect of our nation and ensuring that our nation’s housing needs are met.”

The inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States marked the commencement of the four-year term of Donald Trump as President and Mike Pence as Vice President. A public ceremony was held on Friday, January 20, 2017, on the West Front of the United States Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. The inauguration theme is “Uniquely American”, a phrase that highlights the inaugural ceremony as “a uniquely American expression of our Constitutional system”.[1] The theme also stresses the peaceful transition of power, and that the American people are “united behind an enduring republic”.[1] The inaugural ceremonies held in Washington, D.C., from January 17 to 21, 2017, included concerts, the swearing-in

ceremony, luncheon and parade, inaugural balls, and the interfaith inaugural prayer service. The presidential oath was administered to Trump during his swearing-in ceremony on January 20, 2017, by Chief Justice of the United States John Roberts, and the vice presidential oath of office was administered to Pence by Associate Justice Clarence Thomas. Trump was sworn in on the Lincoln Bible, the same used at the inauguration of Barack Obama, and on Trump’s personal childhood Bible.

Donald Trump will be inaugurated as president of the United States on Friday, but that’s far from the only event happening this week to mark the country’s transition of power.

Inauguration events started Thursday and will run through the weekend. Some of the festivities will be taking place amid several organized protests, including the Women’s March on Washington, which is expected to draw about 200,000 people on Saturday. Here is a full list of all official inauguration events happening over the next few days:

Friday, Jan. 20

9:30 a.m. ­— Musical guests begin performing

The inauguration ceremony begins at the west front of the Capitol Building with musical performances. Jackie Evancho, a 16-year-old classical singer who became a sensation after finishing in second place on America’s Got Talent in 2010, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and the Rockettes will take the stage after many artists turned down requests to entertain at the inauguration. Charlotte Church, Moby, Andrea Bocelli and Ice T. were among those who rejected the offer.

11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. — Inaugural Swearing-in Ceremony

Opening remarks begin at 11:30 a.m. and religious leaders will offer prayers and readings. Then, Mike Pence will be sworn in as vice president by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and Trump will by sworn in as president by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts.

Jack Ma, founder and executive chairman of Alibaba Group, arrives at Trump Tower for meetings with President-elect Donald Trump on January 9, 2017 in New York.

Jack Ma (R), founder and executive chairman of Alibaba Group, and President-elect Donald Trump pose for the media after their meeting at Trump Tower January 9, 2017. Alibaba's Jack Ma says job creation will focus on small business 13 Hours Ago | 03:31

President-elect Donald Trump said he had a “great meeting” with Alibaba executive chairman Jack Ma on Monday, when they discussed 1 million new U.S. jobs. Ma said that Alibaba’s expansion would focus on products like garments, wine and fruits, with a special focus on trade between the American midwest and southeast Asia.

Congratulations to my friend, President-elect Donald Trump. He is a cat with nine lives. Many times I thought he was finished, yet he tapped into the core sentiment of the American people and won.

Also, my respect for Hillary Clinton has gone up. She is a tough competitor. My poor dad lost his election for Lt. Governor of the State of Hawaii and that defeat crushed him and our family.

I felt for Hillary as the returns came in and the map of the US went red for Republicans rather than Blue for her. I doubt if I could have taken such a massive personal vote of no confidence. She has my respect.